• Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • About
  • Home

Pathway

Missouri Baptist Convention's Official News Journal

  • Missouri
    • MBC
    • Churches
    • Institutions & Agencies
    • Policy
    • Disaster Relief
  • National
    • SBC Annual Meeting
    • NAMB
    • SBC
    • Churches
    • Policy
    • Society & Culture
  • Global
    • Missions
    • Multicultural
  • Columnists
    • Wes Fowler
    • Ben Hawkins
    • Pat Lamb
    • Rhonda Rhea
    • Rob Phillips
  • Ethics
    • Life
    • Liberty
    • Family
  • Faith
    • Apologetics
    • Religions
    • Evangelism
    • Missions
    • Bible Study & Devotion
  • E-Edition

More results...

Matching up sensible, humble thinking

March 1, 2016 By Rhonda Rhea

If happiness is having all the laundry done, I’m pretty sure no one has ever been happy. Laundry success is too often defined as digging through the basket of clean clothes for two socks that match. As opposed to digging through the heap of the dirty laundry you’re composting on the floor. Of course, you still may end up wearing socks that don’t match. But hey, maybe it’s all part of an elaborate plan to keep us laundry-humble.

Yesterday it took me all day to put away my smallest load of laundry. Why? Scoop-neck top. Small hanger. I was about one re-hang away from completely losing my mind.

I do like it that in the bigger-than-laundry scheme of things, God has a plan to help me not lose my mind. To actually save it. In Romans 12:2 just after Paul has urged us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God (vs. 1), he says, “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God,” (HCSB).

Our minds are not meant to be lost. They’re meant to be renewed. In the very next verse, Paul says, “I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly,” (vs. 3, HCSB).

“Think sensibly” is from the Greek, “sophroneo” which means “to save,” and “phren” which means “mind.” So what we have here is, literally, a “saved mind.”

Our minds are to be so renewed they’re not puffed up with pride. Every time we get hung up on thinking of ourselves too much, too big and too often, we can be brought back around to the sensible place of not conforming to our culture, but being transformed through a renewed mind. We don’t define success so much by what we’re digging through or how we’re hanging. But maybe much more by how we’re stooping or bending or kneeling or serving. By how we’re humbly loving.

It starts with surrendering our lives to Him on the altar, which is what leads us to that renewed mind—one where pride isn’t allowed to reign—which then takes us to knowing and doing the will of God—serving Him.

That elaborate plan to keep us humble? It can almost be summed up in “don’t lose your mind.” Keep that mind surrendered to and focused on Christ, instead of letting it sort of compost on “self.”

Our happiness doesn’t hang on laundry. We’re the most fulfilled and content when we’re thinking and operating outside ourselves and engaged in the kingdom of Christ—doing His will, thinking His way, loving Him, loving His people, loving His truth.

We’re told to have “minds ready for action” in 1 Peter 1:13 (HCSB). It’s matching up good, right and true thinking with humility and letting that launch us into service. All the while, hanging onto His love and truth—hanging on His every word. Rehanging whenever necessary. Because that’s really not a bad thing to do.

Comments

Featured Videos

Lick Creek Fellowship - A Story of Cooperation

A declining rural church faced closure after years of dwindling attendance and aging members. But after the doors closed, a small group stepped in to build something fresh from its legacy. Watch this video to hear this story of cooperation and new life.

Find More Videos

Trending

  • Eight resolutions proposed for 2025 SBC Annual Meeting

  • IMB trustees appoint new missionaries, elect first woman chair

  • Missouri lawmakers approve bill allowing school chaplains

  • Tornado strikes St. Louis, Missouri Baptists quick to respond

  • Southern Baptists to vote on Business and Financial Plan that emphasizes trustee governance

  • Amendment on role of women in pastoral ministry fails to achieve 2/3 vote

Ethics

Supreme Court unanimously sides with Catholic Charities in religious liberty case

Timothy Cockes

The U.S. Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that a Catholic benevolent ministry qualifies for a tax exemption granted to churches.

Pro-life, pro-adoption bill awaits Missouri governor’s signature

Timothy Faber

More Ethics Stories

Missouri

SBU to host higher ed panel at 2025 SBC annual meeting

Southwest Baptist University

Southwest Baptist University will be hosting an expert panel of higher education leaders at the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in Dallas to discuss the value of and challenges facing Christian colleges and universities.

Copyright © 2025 · The Pathway